Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

How to Deal with Clothes Moths in Your Stash

by

Excellent tips for dealing with a moth infestation from the Zen of Making.It’s probably a nightmare of every crafty person who uses a lot of wool and natural fibers: a moth infestation.

Haley at the Zen of Making recently suffered through such an infestation, which caused the loss of a big chunk of her yarn, fabric and felt stashes and the necessity of cleaning her apartment from top to bottom to ensure that all the moth larvae were taken care of.

It’s a harrowing tale, but she’s very specific in talking about exactly what you need to do to stop moths that have invaded your home. She talks about what to do with yarn skeins, knit and crocheted items, fabric, clothing, bedding, furniture, rugs and more.

Vinegar, a vacuum, a good washing machine and lots of time are the tools you will need to win this battle. The knowledge that moths don’t care if your house is clean or dirty may also help.

Let’s hope this is not a problem you ever have to face, but if you do, you’ll want to have this guide at the ready. Thanks for sharing, Haley!

Have you ever dealt with moths? I’d love to hear if you have any tips to add.

[Photo via the Zen of Making.]

Comments

  2. Had an infestation about a month ago. Never did find out where exactly they were coming from, but I got cedar balls and blocks and put them in coat closet and cupboard where my cloths and stash were. Fingers crossed it seems to have worked … no moth sightings

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.